Gulf mammals under threat as marine 'beachings' remain high

Heather Alexander, Houston Chronicle

Updated 7:23 am, Monday, August 25, 2014

Photo: Michael Nolan, Getty Images

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As a new marine mammal research center is built along the Gulf, stranding numbers remain higher than average for the 29 known species in our waters. Click through to check out the huge variety of these graceful creatures that have been seen in the Gulf of Mexico.

Spinner Dolphin

Schools of spinner dolphins leap and twirl out of the water and splash down creating a noise that can be heard for long distances underwater. Experts still don't know if they are actually trying to communicate or are simply doing it for fun.

As a new marine mammal research center is built along the Gulf, stranding numbers remain higher than average for the 29 known species in our waters. Click through to check out the huge variety of these

Slow moving gentle vegetarians West Indian Manatees are one of six endangered mammals species in the Gulf.

West Indian Manatees

Slow moving gentle vegetarians West Indian Manatees are one of six endangered mammals species in the Gulf.

Photo: James R.D. Scott, Getty Images

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Atlantic Right Whale

This highly unusual looking whale is critically endangered with some estimates suggesting that only 300-350 were left in 2008. They were hunted for almost 800 years and are now nearly extinct. It swims very close to shore which made it an easy target, plus its body floats when dead and yields cast quantities of valuable oil, according to EoL.

The biggest threat to these dolphins comes from getting caught in fishing nets. They are often used by fishermen to find schools of yellow fin tuna which they like to swim with. Because of that millions have been killed after getting entangled in the nets, according to EoL.

These mammals, which have signature black and white lips, are among the least known of all whales and dolphins. Some sightings indicate they swim in groups of as many as 1,000.

Pygmy killer whale

These mammals, which have signature black and white lips, are among the least known of all whales and dolphins. Some sightings indicate they swim in groups of as many as 1,000.

Photo: Dave Fleetham, Getty Images

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Risso's dolphin

Very little is known about these dolphin which usually live down as deep at 600 feet. They are highly social and are thought to while away hours slapping, splashing and leaping on one another. Studies of carcasses have revealed they live on a diet of almost exclusively squid.

Another endangered mammal, the Sei whale can grow to over 50 feet long. It is a baleen whale, according to EoL, which means it does not have teeth. Instead it has long plates which hang down like a comb through which the whales strain huge volumes of water to capture food.

One of their main talents is known as "logging" where pods of about 25 join together to form large herds. When "logging" they all face the same direction and bob like floating logs.

A short finned pilot whale

One of their main talents is known as "logging" where pods of about 25 join together to form large herds. When "logging" they all face the same direction and bob like floating logs.

Photo: Thomas Haider, Getty Images

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Sperm Whale

Also endangered, the sperm whale is the largest of the toothed whales, with males growing up to 65 feet long, according to the encyclopedia of life (EoL). It also has the largest brain of any living mammal. It was a sperm whale that featured in the classic novel Moby Dick.

As far as we know the blue whale is the largest animal to ever have existed on the planet, according to the Encyclopedia of Life. Weights up to 190,000, the same as 30-40 African elephants, have been recorded.

Socially very tactile and will constantly touch and rub each other to affirm relations. Cute! Also endangered...

Atlantic bottlenose dolphins

Socially very tactile and will constantly touch and rub each other to affirm relations. Cute! Also endangered...

Photo: Eco/UIG, Getty Images

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Bridled Porpoise or Atlantic Spotted Dolphin

An acrobatic lot, these dolphins often ride the bow waves of boats, leaping out of the water having fun. They can also dive down to almost 200 feet.

Bridled Porpoise or Atlantic Spotted Dolphin

An acrobatic lot, these dolphins often ride the bow waves of boats, leaping out of the water having fun. They can also dive down to almost 200 feet.

Photo: George Karbus Photography, Getty Images

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Cuvier's Beaked Whale

Rarely seen (or photographed) these cool looking whales stay in deep waters and avoid boats. They have a small dorsel fin and small, narrow flippers according to EoL, plus sharp teeth coming up from the lower jaw.

Dwarf sperm whales are not to be confused with Pigmy Sperm Whales - they have a higher, taller dorsal fin. Both though have been known to engage in "inking" - no they don't all go have tattoos done, to escape danger they excrete a cloud of reddish, brown poop and then dive away. Sounds fairly effective.

According to the EoL, the false killer whale is one of the most commonly involved in strandings. It is the second largest of the dolphins - perhaps why it is called a false killer whale - what a faker.

These are the second largest animal in the world and are also endangered. They are capable of raising almost the whole of their massive bodies out of the water to create a giant splashdown effect. They are also very fast swimmers according to EoL and can reach speeds of around 30 miles and hour.

A bow wave riding Fraser's dolphin showing clearly the distinctive pink coloring that identifies these dolphins. They are also believed to be highly promiscuous, maybe they are blushing.

Fraser's dolphin

A bow wave riding Fraser's dolphin showing clearly the distinctive pink coloring that identifies these dolphins. They are also believed to be highly promiscuous, maybe they are blushing.

Photo: Fotosearch Value, Getty Images

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Humpback whale

Another krill eater with comb like plates instead of teeth to filter huge amounts of water. They are also well known for their impressive leaps right out of the water and the males for "mysterious singing." Their complex social behaviors still baffle scientists despite them being one of the most studied of all whales.

Not just int he Gulf but in all the oceans between the Arctic and the Antarctic, killer whales live in small groups of around 10, built around a stable 2-3 generations of related females, according to EoL.

One of the most abundant whales, minke whales are slim in shape with a pointed dolphin like head, with a double blow-hole. For double blow offs.

Minke whale

One of the most abundant whales, minke whales are slim in shape with a pointed dolphin like head, with a double blow-hole. For double blow offs.

Photo: Mark Carwardine, Getty Images

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Atlantic Spinner dolphin or Clymene dolphin

Distinguished from the regular spinner dolphin by the shortness of its beak and the color pattern. These spinners do also spin though leaping high out of the water and rotating several times before splashing back down. No one was able to describe them at all until the 1970s when some of them stranded in New Jersey and Texas, says EoL.

The Striped Dolphin, Stenella coeruleoalba, has long and slender flippers, a smooth "crease like throat" and sharply pointed teeth according to the encyclopedia of Life. It also has a go faster black stripe running all the way down its side, starting at the eye. less

Striped Dolphin

The Striped Dolphin, Stenella coeruleoalba, has long and slender flippers, a smooth "crease like throat" and sharply pointed teeth according to the encyclopedia of Life. It also has a go faster ... more

Photo: Fotosearch, Getty Images

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Gulf mammals under threat as marine 'beachings' remain high

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A new center to study marine mammal strandings is being built along the Gulf of Mexico as the number of strandings remains higher than average.

The new center for the Alabama Marine Mammal Stranding Network is expected to open in mid-2015. It will allow marine biologists to complete complex testing of whales, dolphins and manatees found stranded – or "beached" – on Gulf shores.

There are at least 29 different species of marine mammals in the Gulf waters, 25 of them can be seen in the slideshow above. They range from the cute and cuddly looking bottle-nosed dolphin all the way to the giant blue whale, the largest animal ever to have existed on Earth, according to the Encyclopedia of Life.

Six of the marine mammal species are endangered, including the West Indian Manatee.

Researchers at Alabama stranding network suggest that unusually cold winters followed by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill are what has led to more strandings in recent years.